Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt
Hugo Ekitike is set for a Premier League move(Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea are wasting no time in identifying their summer transfer targets, with reports in France claiming the Blues will move for former Newcastle United target Hugo Ekitike. The 22-year-old striker, who turned down a move to Tyneside in 2022, is also top of Liverpool's transfer wishlist, but Enzo Maresca's side are ready to steal a march on the Reds.
French forward Ekitike is available for around £85m and could take Chelsea's spending over the £100m mark already, with a £30m deal for Ipswich striker Liam Delap expected to be announced today. Newcastle were one of several clubs to have spoken with Delap's representatives, along with Manchester United and Everton, but he opted for a move to Stamford Bridge.
Now it seems that Chelsea will damage Liverpool's transfer plans by signing Ekitike, three years after he decided not to join Newcastle. The Magpies were keen to bring him to the Premier League after he impressed for Reims, but he decided to make the switch to French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
That moved did not work out in terms of gametime, and he moved to Germany with Frankfurt, initially on loan, before completing a permanent deal last summer. He hit 15 goals for the Bundesliga side last term, with interest ramped up ahead of a summer move.
Frankfurt board member Axel Hellmann confirmed there was strong Premier League interest in Ekitike, saying: “I would love to have him at Frankfurt for another ten years, if possible.
“But we are realistic. He is one of the best high-potential players in Europe at the moment and he is only 22. That means he has a great future.
“He is a clever guy. He loves to listen and learn. I would love him to stay another couple of years. But the market is the market and half of the Premier League clubs are interested in signing him.”
Chelsea could bankroll their summer business by selling up to 14 of their current first-team stars, with Newcastle-linked Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah two of the big names who could depart.
United are on the lookout for a right-sided forward and a centre-back and look to have lost out to Manchester United in the race to sign Brenftord's Bryan Mbeumo.
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